Swain County Map

Welcome to Swain County

NOTE: The Telephone AREA CODE for Swain County is 828
The first 3 digits of the postal 'ZIP code' are 287

Swain County Overview

Swain County is owned by the Federal Government, — which, by definition, the county receives no income from property taxes on that land. Actually, not all of it is federal land. The northern two-thirds is part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The southern part (mostly south of US-74) is part of Nantahala National Forest. A good hunk at the eastern side of the county is the Cherokee Indian Reservation. What's left? A strip of land — at least most of it — between Whittier and Bryson City and north of US-74. Sure, the Feds have been generous and allowed some private ownership around the communities of Alarka, Almond and Lauada.
The up side to this is that there are thousands of acres of beautiful mountain forestland for you to enjoy, — preserved and safeguarded from developers. The Little Tennessee River and Tuckasegee River unite at the Graham County border. The Nantahala River joins the Little Tennessee River several miles upstream. And, upstream from this confluence is the famous whitewater section of the Nantahala River. Take a drive along US-19/74 and you can see the kayakers from your car.

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The town of Cherokee (don't confuse the TOWN of Cherokee with the COUNTY of Cherokee) iis primarily for tourism. The Oconaluftee Indian Village - a real live Indian village created for tourists. Here you can see portrayed Cherokee village life 250 some years ago. On exhibit are native potters, basket weavers, beadworkers, blowgun marksmen and dozens of other exhibits. The real attraction, however, seems to be the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino which, incidently, is the major source of income to the Cherokee Tribe.
In the summer, the Cherokees put on their famous Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama which tells the tragic story of how the Cherokee ancestors were forcefully driven out of the Great Smoky Mountains and marched 1,200 miles to Oklahoma. This may be a little heavy for younger children but, if you have kids with you, they will probably enjoy tubing at the nearby Deep Creek Tubes. Of course, there is the Cherokee Bear Zoo and the Cherokee Indian Museum.

So it really doesn't matter who owns the land; it is there for you to enjoy.

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Swain County Overview

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